For community organizations in historically Black and Brown neighborhoods, Black History Month means continuing efforts in a time where they have more of a spotlight on them. While a project on Buffalo’s East Side may not be complete, it is in the final stretch and could set a precedent for others across the state.

"African Americans — we just historically have been giants in all fields," said Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor executive director Terry Alford.

While many are enthralled by Black artists and entertainers, there's much more.

"What we wanted to do was to really highlight those individuals who were pioneers or champions in the areas of science, medicine, research and education,” Alford said.

So Alford and his organization had the idea to create banners and put African American excellence on display.

"We like to say that we stand on the shoulders of so many that come before us," he said.

"What are the contributions of African peoples to the making of the United States? That story is little known," added the Corridor's history committee chair, Lillian S. Williams.

She formerly chaired the African American Studies program at the University at Buffalo, so through academic dives into local history and just being a part of the fabric of this community, she helped plan the banners’ location around the medical campuses and historic East Side of Buffalo.

"This is one project that can help ameliorate some of the tensions by highlighting those African Americans who were medical specialists and also had a tie not only to the corridor, but in many cases, they were nationally renowned or internationally renowned," Williams said.

The project was initially slated for Juneteenth 2023. The research is done and the figures are selected, but the banners have been through a process where some of the photos they were going to use were less than flattering with age.

"Despite the technology being used with unique software to soften the images up or make them more specific, detailed, you can only do with what you have," said Alford.

The answer to that challenge: putting out the call for artists to help create proper renderings for the unsung heroes.

"I'm a product of these communities. I grew up in an area of the city on the East Side of Buffalo, and, you know, growing up, for many of us, it was a distant dream to ever even be able to work in a place like our Roswell Park," added Alford.

There's an understanding that these will not just be printed polyurethane on metal poles with QR codes for an in-depth look into the past.